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“How did you know I was down here?”
“Jack sent me.” She held on to Sterling’s biceps. “Do you think you can handle a trip to the ladies’ room?”
Sterling nodded and by the time they arrived at the bathroom, the need to upchuck had finally dissipated.
Slumping forward over the sink, she grabbed on with both hands. The reflection staring back at her from the mirror was horrifying. Her eyes were watery, her cheeks were flushed, and her hair frizzed from her sweat-soaked scalp. “I’m a mess.”
“Shush. He still looked interested and after I get you cleaned up, we’ll hunt him down again.” Penn winked and then dug around inside Sterling’s bag. She held out the travel toothbrush and toothpaste. “What exactly were you doing down here?”
“I…” Sterling straightened and tamed the strands of her dark hair. “I was feeling sick and I was trying to…”
“Escape?”
Sterling laughed. “That’s exactly what Jack said.” She scrubbed her teeth, a little uncomfortable at the way Penn stared at her in the mirror. “What?” she mumbled with the toothbrush still in her mouth.
Penn cocked her head and rested her hand on her hip. “I feel like a proud mama. I tell you to find a man and you waste no time picking the most infamous bachelor on the boat.”
She rinsed her mouth and placed the travel toothbrush into its holder. “You mean Jack Vaughn?”
“Duh.” Penn reached into her own purse and pulled out a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash. When she noticed Sterling’s curious stare, she shrugged. “You think you’re the only one who’s prepared? This comes in handy many a morning when I find myself waking up in a gorgeous man’s bed.” She smiled and thrust the bottle into Sterling’s hand.
After rinsing her mouth with the green, minty liquid, Sterling took a deep breath. Much better. She should probably find a new man to kiss now—one who hadn’t seen her inglorious upchucking. But her introduction to Jack Vaughn had just narrowed the playing field. Not too many were going to compete with that much sex on a stick.
“So, you and Jack?” Penn asked, as she slipped the mouthwash back into her purse, coaxing Sterling for more information.
“It’s not like I sought him out on purpose.” Definitely not. Sterling was way out of her element on this boat. Hobnobbing with fancy, rich people was not a typical evening of fun. However, she had promised Penn she’d try her best to leave stick-in-the-mud Sterling at home and let loose. So much for that plan. And now that she’d met Jack Vaughn, her own self-doubt needled its way back into her brain.
“Maybe not, but the fates have decided something else entirely.” Penn wiggled her eyebrows. She’d been coaxing Sterling to date for months and finally, Sterling felt ready to get back in the game. Granted, she had a lot of baggage, but she wasn’t looking for Mr. Right. She was looking for Mr. One-Night Stand. That was about all she could handle right now. But was Jack Vaughn the best candidate?
“Don’t you think it’s a little awkward?” she asked.
Penn stared at her. “How so?”
“Considering he’s your boss.”
Relief washed over Penn’s face. “When have I ever suggested anything appropriate when it comes to men?” She grabbed a handful of paper towels and held them under the tap, drenching them in cold water. “He doesn’t seem to be as involved in the family business as Cole, Finn, and Neil.” She patted the wet paper towel against Sterling’s face and neck. “He does his own thing.”
Everyone knew that Jack Vaughn partied as hard as he worked. And it was easy to do when you owned five of the hottest restaurants in the world. He flitted across the globe, tending to his businesses, keeping girlfriends in every city. If she was honest, the man she read about in the magazines and the man who held her hair while she heaved just didn’t jibe. But she’d promised Penn, and herself, that she’d break out of her shell. And tonight was supposed to be the first night of a new and improved, sexually enticing Sterling Andrews.
How many years had she spent compartmentalizing her life—organizing, planning, being prepared? Her plans should’ve led to a successful, drama-free existence. Which so far hadn’t worked out. Every moment of her life was spent doing things for other people. She was tired of being used. Now was her time to do something for fun, something strictly for herself. Maybe Jack could be her “something fun.”
“Is it just me or is Jack the hottest thing you’ve ever seen?”
“Honey, try working with three of them every day. I’m constantly wiping drool from my mouth.”
They laughed and walked back to the scene of the crime. George was no longer there sweeping up glass. Sterling glanced at the spot where she’d first seen Jack, remembering his utter gorgeousness.
Penn was right. Those men were drool-worthy. Especially Jack. Who cares if he was the type to take what he wanted and leave her in the dust? That’s exactly what she was looking for. This time, she was going to be the one to take what she wanted and never look back. And what better man to practice with than the King of Flings, Jack Vaughn?
“So…” She bit her bottom lip. “How exactly do I go about seducing a man like Jack Vaughn?”
Chapter Two
Jack paced the main deck of the boat, desperate to jump over the railing and swim to safety.
Toronto’s wealthiest citizens filled the yacht, waving their tumblers of top-shelf liquor, talking about their checkbooks and summer vacations. Luckily, they were exactly the type of people who were more than willing to give away some of the money collecting interest in their bank accounts. But indulging all the cloyingly perfumed women hoping to hit it rich by trapping one of the Madewood brothers wasn’t his idea of fun. At least not anymore. Hence his retreat to the bottom deck.
The luxury boat was rather old, but the decor masked its age. Several stations had been set up with spectacular hors d’oeuvres made by a group of kids in the program. The bar—which had no shortage of alcohol—sat off to the left.
